Description

A petty thief is bested by a widow and her card-playing friends; a farmer must cope with raising his baby granddaughter; a train engineer inadvertently causes a major disaster and finds himself amidst a media frenzy; a young man falls in love with a voice on the radio; and a camera repairman discovers a woman’s family history in a roll of undeveloped film. Ordinary people are confronted with extraordinary situations, with results that are sometimes comic, sometimes tragic, but always life changing.

In stories filled with heart and humour, Tim Gautreaux explores the stresses and strains of everyday life as his characters struggle to make amends for their mistakes and hope for different, better days to come.

Publisher Review

'Finely balanced, sweet, and gritty' * San Francisco Chronicle * 'Startling and redemptive . . . These stories suggest . . . that to be alive means being open to grief and accident, chance and wonder' * Chicago Tribune * 'This man is a wonderful writer . . . I can honestly say I love to read his stories. He never exaggerates, never manipulates the reader's affections, but nonetheless he always captures the heart.' * James Lee Burke * Tim Gautreaux deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams. Scintillating...unforgettable * Mail on Sunday * This outstanding collection marks Tim Gautreaux as one of the best short story writers anywhere...it is magnificently enjoyable reading * Annie Proulx, Guardian *